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Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd was bypassed for the NBA All-Star Game, and his chances were not helped by a knee injury that has sidelined him for the last 13 games.

When the seven Eastern Conference reserves were revealed on cable network TNT on Thursday night, New Jersey's Vince Carter and Jason Kidd were in, and so were Detroit's Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.

Redd was out, the third straight year he was not chosen by conference coaches after being selected for the 2004 All-Star Game.

"His game has improved year after year," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "Of the last three years, this was his most deserving."

Redd was fifth in the league in scoring at 27.7 points per game, when he suffered a strained left patellar tendon while going up for a dunk in a home loss to Cleveland on Jan. 5. He is expected to return next week.

"Obviously, we're disappointed he didn't make it," Harris said Thursday night. "I don't think (the injury) should have been a factor in the decision.

"He averaged 27 points a game and played 33 games, and he's coming back. So I think that's a bailout. I'm not crying over spilled milk, but when he was healthy, we were a team on the rise."

The Bucks put together a six-game winning streak in December to briefly move above the .500 mark, but without Redd in the lineup they have posted a 2-11 record to fall to 18-28.

Racine native Caron Butler of the Washington Wizards gained his first all-star berth after averaging 20.6 points and eight rebounds and helping the Wizards to the top record in the Eastern Conference.

Also named to the East squad on Thursday were Indiana power forward Jermaine O'Neal and Orlando center Dwight Howard.

The Chicago Bulls did not put any players on the team, despite a winning record and strong performances from Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng.

"I'm sure all seven players were deserving, but I'm shocked there was not a Chicago Bull on the East team," Harris said. "They should have had at least one. And I'm very disappointed for Michael, and for our fans. He deserved to be on there."

The East starters, as voted by the fans, are guards Gilbert Arenas and Dwyane Wade, center Shaquille O'Neal and forwards LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Twice this season, Redd was named the Eastern Conference player of the week, and he scored a franchise-record 57 points on Nov. 11 against Utah.

He also had 45 points in a Bucks victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, and he scored 37 and 36, respectively, to help the team claim road decisions over Detroit and San Antonio.

Redd's only all-star appearance came in Los Angeles in 2004, when he scored 13 points and added three steals and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

"The last couple years, I thought I should have made it," Redd said earlier in the week. "Everybody wants to be the best at what they do and be rewarded for it."